The aim of the UDF government is to make the police stations more people-friendly, said Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. He was speaking after inaugurating the police station at Elamakkara on Sunday, ending the long-standing demand of local people.
The new station with a strength of 25 personnel, including a sub-inspector, will be operated in a rented house at Perumbotta junction in the Thannikkal, Keerthi Nagar Road, initially.
“I will strive to see to it that the station functions in its own building,” said Hibi Eden MLA who was in the forefront of the demand for the Police Station.
The 24th police station of Kochi city is expected to look after around 60,000 people spread across 12 sq km. It is also expected to help bring down the crime rate around the area and lessen the work burden of Kalamassery police station that had been taking care of Elamakkara region despite being located six km away.
The main areas under the Elamakkara police station are Elamakakra, Pottakkuzhy, Ponekkara, Karukappilly, Puthukkalavattam, Mamangalam, spots near Pachalam railway track and a portion of Edappally NH bypass coming under Edappally south, Edappally north and Elamkulam villages. It has 30 religious centres including 17 temples, four churches and three mosques and nearly a dozen educational institutions under its jurisdiction.
Though the station has come up at Elamakkara, the people are likely to face hardships as its Circle office is at Kalamasssery and the Sub division office is at Thrikkakara, said Hibi Eden.
He has made a request to the Home Minister to place the Eloor police station, under Ernakulam north circle, under the jurisdiction of Kalamassery circle and place Elamakkara under Ernakulam north circle. “The Home Minister has responded positively and has directed ADGP K Padmakumar to do the follow-up,” said Hibi. Union Minister K V Thomas, Benny Behanan MLA, ADGP K Padmakumar, IG M R Ajithkumar, City Police commissioner K G James among others were present.